Noteworthy

Published 10:27 pm, Friday, January 3, 2014

Photo: Sam Greenwood

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LAHAINA, HI - JANUARY 02: Jordan Spieth speaks with the media following the pro-am round prior to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 2, 2014 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 461171913 less

LAHAINA, HI - JANUARY 02: Jordan Spieth speaks with the media following the pro-am round prior to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 2, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Sam Greenwood

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Spieth one of four to share tournament lead

KAPALUA, Hawaii — Jordan Spieth was among the newcomers who felt right at home Friday at Kapalua.

Coming off a remarkable rookie season, Spieth made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 7-under 66 to share the lead after one round of the Tournament of Champions with Chris Kirk, Michael Thompson and Webb Simpson.

Simpson is the only one of the leaders who has played in this event before.

Kirk is playing for the first time since he won the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island. He birdied his last five holes, the last two into a wind that required some of his best shots. Thompson also played his best golf late in the round, with four birdies on the final five holes of the Plantation Course.

Tennis:Rafael Nadal reached the final of the Qatar Open on by coming from behind to beat German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Nadal will face Gael Monfils of France, who only needed 55 minutes to dispatch Florian Mayer of Germany 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal. ... Serena Williams extended her winning streak against Maria Sharapova to 14 matches with a 6-2, 7-6 (7) semifinal victory to earn a shot at back-to-back Brisbane International titles. Williams will play second-seeded Victoria Azarenkain Saturday's final.

Auto racing: Scores of Michael Schumacher's fans converged on a hospital in the French Alps to honor the Formula One great on his 45th birthday, just days after he was critically injured in a skiing accident. Schumacher has been in a medically induced coma since Sunday, when he struck his head on a rock while on a family vacation.

Skeleton:Martins Dukurs of Latvia won a World Cup skeleton race by a huge margin, re-establishing himself as the Olympic favorite after topping the field by more than a second. Matt Antoine — who was second after the first run — finished fourth for the U.S., one spot ahead of teammate John Daly

Soccer: Former U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley will take charge of Stabaek, a small soccer club that was just promoted to the top division.